The award recognizes the current ASH Scholar with the highest scoring abstract for the ASH annual meeting. This award is given in honor of a past Scholar Award recipient and distinguished member of ASH, Joanne Levy, who passed away in 2004. It was made possible by the Levy family to continue her legacy and promote excellence in hematology research.

Vallbona has been on the BCM faculty since 1956 and worked in collaboration for many years with the Harris County Hospital District to provide care for the medically underserved. In announcing the award, Jorge Franz, chair of the International Affairs Advisory Council and vice president of tourism at the Greater Houston Convention and Visitors Bureau, called Vallbona "a tremendous role model for everyone in the Texas Medical Center."

Barnes appointed to AMA committee for obesity prevention

Dr. Ann Smith Barnes, an assistant professor of medicine at BCM, has been invited to join an expert working group formed by the American Medical Association to better educate and prepare health care professionals about obesity and obesity prevention. The group, which will meet quarterly, will help the AMA develop actionable steps to improve medical training from undergraduate medical education through continuing professional development.

Rosen to receive Komen Brinker award for basic science

Dr. Jeffrey Rosen, the C.C. Bell Professor of Molecular and Cellular Biology at BCM, has been selected to receive the Susan G. Komen for the Cure 2010 Brinker Award for Scientific Distinction in Basic Research. The award recognizes basic scientists for their career achievements in breast cancer. For more information on the award and Rosen's career achievements, see the press release.

Event

Community Health Day volunteers needed

The fifth annual Community Health Day sponsored by the Care of the Underserved Track is scheduled for Saturday, Nov. 6, from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. at La Nueva Casa de Amigos. Volunteers are still needed to work at the event. The health day is entirely student run, and organizers depend on the participation of their peers.

To volunteer or for more information contact Mercedes Montalvo at mnmontal@bcm.edu.

La Nueva Casa de Amigos is located at 1809 N. Main Street, Houston 77009.

College News

Bike auction

Security services held the first-ever bike auction at BCM, raising $1,032 for the Employee Relief Fund.

Faculty, staff and students had the opportunity over two days to bid on 18 bikes that had been abandoned at BCM and unclaimed for a long period. At the end of the auction, the bikes were awarded to the highest bidders.

The Employee Relief Fund provides short-term financial assistance to employees who have faced a crisis such as a fire or natural disaster.

Baby elephant and BCM professor featured on National Geographic

An interview with Dr. Paul Ling, associate professor of virology and microbiology at BCM, will be included in the up-coming episode of Zoo Confidential, a behind the scenes look at life at the Houston Zoo, airing on the Nat Geo Wild channel. Ling talks about the collaboration between the Houston Zoo and Baylor College of Medicine to find a treatment and eventual cure for elephant herpes. This episode, part two of a three part series, will include the birth of baby Baylor. The show is scheduled to air Tuesday, Oct. 19, 8 p.m. CDT. For more information please log onto Nat Geo Wild.